Software Engineer - Python, Business Operations

Akuna Capital•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm focused on collaboration, cutting-edge technology, data-driven solutions, and automation. We specialize in providing liquidity as an options market-maker. To achieve this, we design and implement our own low-latency technologies, trading strategies, and mathematical models. Founded in Chicago in 2011, Akuna now operates globally with offices in Sydney, Shanghai, London, and Singapore. This role is the primary ongoing development resource for Business Operations technology, supporting Procurement, Finance, and Human Resources. The current priority is a data infrastructure project consolidating cost data into a unified cost-attribution framework. The role will involve a broadening range of development work across these functions over time, with a defining requirement to apply AI capabilities to improve data workflows, reporting, and operational processes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience
Professional software development experience (minimum 3-5 years), with demonstrated ability to work as a sole or lead developer on cross-functional projects
Strong proficiency in a backend language commonly used for data integration and automation work, such as Python
Strong SQL skills and relational database design experience; direct experience with PostgreSQL is preferred
Demonstrated experience building and consuming REST APIs, including authentication, error handling, and data transformation across systems that were not designed to work together
Direct experience integrating with at least several of the following, or clearly transferable equivalents: Jira/JSM (API/scripting), NetSuite (SuiteScript/SuiteTalk or equivalent), Atlassian Bitbucket/Git, and CMDB-type tools such as Device42
Hands-on experience integrating LLM/AI APIs, such as Anthropic or OpenAI, into applications or workflows, including prompt construction and handling structured and unstructured outputs
Version control proficiency with Git and comfort working in a Bitbucket-based environment
Ability to communicate technical concepts and tradeoffs clearly to non-technical stakeholders in Finance, Procurement, and HR
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities across multiple business functions, and operate with minimal direct technical oversight
The ability to react quickly and accurately to rapidly changing market conditions, including the ability to quickly and accurately respond and/or solve math and coding problems are essential functions of the role

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in financial services, trading, or a similarly data- and compliance-sensitive industry
Experience with cost allocation, chargeback, or FinOps-style frameworks
Experience building internal tools or dashboards for non-technical business users
Exposure to procurement or vendor management systems

Responsibilities

Lead the development efforts for our FP&A Cost Attribution Project
Serve as lead developer for the development of a bitemporal PostgreSQL database that enables traceable cost allocation, with a schema designed to become more granular as business requirements evolve
Build and maintain integrations pulling data from Jira, NetSuite, Device42, and Bitbucket, among other data sources, to support cost attribution logic
Support the project toward its Q1 2027 deployment target, including schema documentation and handoff materials, and maintain the system once in production
Lead engineering efforts in support of our Business Operations teams
Work with the Procurement team to rebuild the current quote order management systems
Support Finance and HR operations by building data pipelines, automating reports, and integrating systems as needs arise
Act as a general-purpose development resource across these functions, prioritizing work in coordination with the Director of Operations
Identify and implement native AI features within tools already in use by Procurement, Finance, HR, Compliance, and Risk, such as AI capabilities embedded in NetSuite, Jira, Confluence, or other platforms
Build custom integrations using APIs, MCP, or comparable protocols to connect large language models to internal systems and workflows
Evaluate current manual processes across these functions and propose and implement AI-assisted or automated alternatives
Work with the Security team to maintain security best practices and appropriate data-handling controls when integrating AI tooling with internal or vendor systems